Toasted Corn Flakes Ad

        A toasted corn flakes ad by Kelloggs cereal company depicts the old Southwest with a large donkey, pueblo and a family of Native Americans. 

• The Battle of the Cornflakes
• History and Legacy of an American company
• Kellogg Brothers Documentary

Tulips and Child Paperdoll

Description of Illustration: Victorian Trade Card for Enameline the Modern Stove Polish, J. L. Prescott & Co. 90-92 West Broadway New York, one of a set of six for this label, floral dolls

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks. 

Wooly Sheep Illustrations

        The following wooly domesticated sheep are all in black and white, illustrated with great detail, and would look lovely in a variety of crafts, articles, school projects too.

folk art looking sheep in a field

A vintage Easter photograph.

a oval shaped illustration of a curly horned sheep

framed sheep in a drawn painting

Vintage Sewing Machine Clip Art

 Antique sewing machines for our visitor's crafts and  journals; some have cabinet, some do not.

The St. Louis "Ladies Art Co." of 1889

      The St. Louis "Ladies Art Co." catalogues were produced by the Brauscheidt family who also owned and operated a general store near the riverfront. Their mail order company sold much more than quilter's patterns. They sold every supply one might imagine helpful or necessary to craft lace, needlepoint, knitting supplies etc...

Original cover design for 1889 catalogue

Price of their 1889 catalogue, $.25

Prices for the patterns only, printed in color on cardboard:

1 Pattern, $.10

3 Patterns, $.25 

7 Patterns, $.50

15 Patterns, $1.00

 

      "The miniature diagrams in the catalogue can give you but a faint idea of the beauty of these patterns, being here reduced to so small a size, the details are imperfectly brought out. The diagrams are printed on heavy card board and artistically colored, so as to give some idea how the finished blocks would look, being also suggestive of effective colors to use in making up the blocks. Though, of course, the combination of colors can be varied in a hundred ways to suit the individual's tastes and fancies."

   

The Ladies Art Co. also sold both finished blocks and entire quilts!

      

      "We will make up finished blocks to order from any diagram in this catalogue, of any size, and of any material such as: Silk, Woolen or Calico. It will be impossible to quote any prices here, as there are such a large number, some of which are simple and require little labor, while again others are very complicated and would take many times the amount of labor of other patterns, consequently the prices will be as various as the patterns. Then again the kind of blocks of one kind you want, will make a difference in the price. The price per block will be less if you take six or more, than a single block would be. They will be worked in the neatest and most artistic manner, and will be sure to please the most fastidious taste. Also, in making finished blocks to order, we can make them of any size desired. Write us full particulars of what you want, enclosing a two-cent stamp, and we shall be pleased to quote you prices. We will undertake to make up a whole quilt, from diagrams of your own selection. Materials furnished and orders taken for any description of Fancy Work, Painting, Embroidery, Lace Making, Tissue Paper Flowers, etc."

Advertisements Listed by The Ladies' Art Co. of St. Louis, Mo. in newspapers:

Listed in "The Ranch" from Seattle Washington in 1913
Every quilter should have our book of 450 designs containing
the prettiest, queerest scarcest, most grotesque patterns, from
old log cabin to stars and puzzle designs; also crazy stitches
and Cat. All postpaid, for six 2 ct. stamps etc...

From The New York Tribune in 1905
For 12c We send Cambric pattern of this beautiful front
collar and cuffs, to introduce our lace, embroidery and
perforated patterns.
Ladies' Art Co., 404 Broadway, Room 81, St. Louis Mo.

From The National Tribune, 1891
Satin and Plush Remnants for Crazy Patch. A large
pkg. pretty pieced assorted colors to ect...

From the New York Tribune, 1914
I cant' read this one; it's too worn away.

From the Evening Star, 1915
Contains hundreds of designs and four complete alphabets. With it we send
our catalog of Fancy Work. Price 15c; or two books 25c. Don't send stamps.
Ladies' Art Co. 163 Gay Bldg., St. Louis, Mo.

Read More About The Ladies' Art Co.:

• History of Ladies' Art Co. of St. Louis
• On This Index, I will upload and distribute many St. Louis Art Co. patterns in the future, but only on Sundays folks. I am growing old and tired...

A Poppy Design for A Round Table

      The floral design pictured you can readily transfer to linen, leather or burlap by inserting a sheet of carbon, or tracing paper between the design and fabric, then going over all the lines of the design with a stylus or sharp pencil.

      You will then find the lines on the fabric distinct enough to follow in your embroidery. 

      This historic pattern has a lovely all-over design using poppies, their buds and leaves. Victorians loved to display a decorative vase with a bouquet, prominently in the center of a table covering like the one included here.

       Use brilliant reds, oranges and pinks to emphasize the design in your own version!

Old-Fashioned Embroidery Designs for Plate Doilies

Satin, outline, eylet and button-hole stitches.

      These designs may be worked in either solid or eyelet. Detail drawings, show method of working.

      There are two ways to apply the designs to the material upon which you wish to work them.

      If your material is sheer--such as handkerchief linen, lawn, batiste, and the like--the simplest method is to lay the material over the design and with a well pointed pencil draw over each line.

      If your material is heavy secure a piece of transfer or impression paper. Lay it face down upon this, then draw over each line of the paper design with a hard pencil or the point of a steel knitting needle. Upon lifting the pattern and transfer paper you will find neat and accurate impression of the design upon your material. 

      There are two points to observe in this simple process if you would execute it satisfactorily. One is to see that your material is level--cut and folded by a thread--and that your design is placed upon it evenly at every point. 

      The second is, when placed accurately secure the design to the material with thumb tacks or pins, so it cannot slip during the operation.

      Do not rest your hand or fingers upon any part of the design while you are transferring.

 

Historic embroidery pattern depicting daisies.

Historic embroidery pattern depicting wheat stalks.

 

Collar Design in Bulgarian Embroider

      I am furnishing you a pretty design today. the very name of which will call to your mind the peasantry of the Balkan Mountains who are noted for their remarkable skill in completing some of the handsomest embroidery of historical beauty. It is their aim and delight to use a great many colors, intermingling them in a manner so clever that one color blends like a shadow into its adjoining part.

      For this pattern I suggest for the center pieces, or floral motif, the different shades of blue, ranging it from pale blue to a china or phenol blue, or begin the wheel center with medium blue and graduate the tones to a navy blue. In the stem and leaf portions use dark leaf green in outline, then a lighter green for leaves, with a very pale tip-green. The butterfly can be worked in Delf blue with wing spots of blue, two colors, and a mere touch of green. Miniature triangles on collar border should be worked in green. Fill the notches in satin-stitch of dark green floss, and border with a scallop of dark blue. I have offered this color scheme because the colors, as a rule, wash well.

      All portions are in solid effect, with the exception of wheels, made with Battenberg stitches. The pattern can be developed in all white, but I feel sure you will like a color effect to create a decided novelty in your finished collar. Sincerely yours, Winifred Worth

 

 

Embroidery Design for a Sailor Collar

sketch of collar

      So numerous have been the requests for a sailor collar design that I am glad to offer one today that delightfully combines simplicity of decoration with just a little departure from the usual. White linen of medium weight is perhaps best for this idea; the conventional design is arranged to allow you a freedom of choice in working-a message that all needle-workers hail with joy. 

      The flowers you can work in the flat wallachian stitch if you wish. This is quick and effective and promises durability. But if your preferences be for solid work, you can disregard the central vein put there as a guide for the wallachain, and after padding slightly the petals should be worked with the usual solid stich. The central part of each flower can be a tiny eyelet to match the groups of eyelets in the body of the design. If I were you, I would not overdo the matter, but would work the groups of three disks on the border in regular solid stitch.

      The stems should be kept slender, suggesting a line, for the border must not be made to heavy in appearance. 

      When working the scallops, a slight padding is necessary, using daring cotton in a chain stitch is you aim at quickness in the work. To make the edge doubly strong, a buttonhole stitch is suggested as a final touch. 

      I cannot too heartily emphasize the comfort of the sailor collar for blouse or dress. In the all-white scheme which can be combined with any color, or with touches of color to bring it into harmony with a colored dress, it stands in an important place in summer fashions, and I am sure it will be prominent in the summer's work of industrious women. 

 

Round Table Mat Design for Either Linen or Leather

 Directions For Embroidery Design.

      Transfer patterns are very popular just at present, and one can attribute their popularity principally to the ease with which they can be handled, transferred to fabric, etc.

      The design pictured you can readily transfer to linen, leather or burlap by inserting a sheet of carbon, or tracing paper between the design and fabric, then going over all the lines of the design with a stylus or sharp pencil.

      You will then find the lines on the fabric distinct enough to follow in your embroidery.

 

       This historic pattern has a bit of a "Art Deco" flair in it's design. The pattern was originally designed to create a cover for a circular table. A lamp or a decorative bowl could then be centered in the middle of the design for either practical purposes or decorative ones. This would also prevent scratching to the surface of the table top.

Three Decorative Embroidery Borders

       These decorative embroidery borders were published by the Washington Herold in 1912. The lower two are very much like those patterns found in Art Deco motifs. Originally these were suggested for fancy hand towels but you could embroider pillows or even a nice table cloth with these suggestions to go with your period furniture pieces.

 

Embroidery Patterns for Blue Birds

       With Spring and Summer birthdays and celebrations not so many weeks away, embroidery designs to be used on gifts are especially in demand. This week designs of blue birds in different sizes are shown. 

       In using the printed design from a printed copy, the directions are as follows: If the material is sheer, the easiest way to transfer the patterns is to lay it over the design, which sill show through plainly, and draw over each line with a hard sharp pencil. If your linen is heavy, buy a piece of impression paper (transfer paper) - the kind that does not rub off-- lay it on your material, place the design over it and trace with a hard pencil. You will find the design neatly transferred.

Vintage cross-stitch patterns for pillow shams and hand towels...

This design of a vase with flowers is by Sarah Hale,

 she suggested it for a pillow sham.

       A hand towel done in cross stitch is always appreciated as a gift. This little windmill is an effective design and is very quickly worked. It will look best done in delft blue shades of embroidery floss. All the stitches which slant in one direction should be worked first and then crossed by those which slant in the opposite direction.

Die cuts of infants in baskets...

Description of Illustration: Two die cuts of babies in baskets, the upper has hen and chicks also. The baby below is holding a doll and falling from a basket.

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Invitations to Tea

Description of Illustration: Victorian die cut invitations, children in tea cups, fill in the tags to invite someone to tea, children seated inside fancy blue tea cups,

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Girl In Yellow

Description of Illustration: small bouquet of flowers, one pink rose, girl wearing yellow dress, die cut

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Old Keepsakes From The Farm

 

Description of Illustration: yellow wild rose, pink fan, pink ribbon, old wooden box, lily of the valley flower, old winter postcard of farm, text "Speak no evil one of another" from scripture James 4:11

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Horlick's Malted Milk Cow

  

Description of Illustration:brown milk cow, blue ribbon, prize winning cow, text reads "Horlick's Malted Milk, First Prize"

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

The littlest witch...

Description of Illustration: three little kittens, saucer of milk or cream, little Victorian girl dressed up as a witch, Halloween, golden curls, pointed black hat

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Caricatures wearing monocles and eye glasses...

Description of Illustration: three different men illustrated wearing monocles and eye glasses, corrective vision, cigar, caricatures, stiff white collars, Victorian die cuts

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

Old Sewing Ads

        Small sewing ads from labels and magazines dating back to the Victorian Era.

J. P. Coats superior threads advertisement featuring a spool of thread.

Chadwicks thread J&C featuring puppies.

J. P. Coats superior threads advertisement featuring a child with birds and sun.

A French sewing advertisement for Singer.

R.F.D. spool cotton thread advertisement.

Advertisement for the Domestic Sewing Machine

J. P. Coats superior threads advertisement featuring a man dressed in a kimono.